Tag: historical fiction

[ARC] We Are Lost and Found by Helene Dunbar

On By curryforkristelIn Fiction, lgbt, Romance, Young AdultLeave a comment

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5stars

And it isn’t like I’m really in the closet. But it isn’t as if I’m all the way out either; it’s more like I’m standing in the doorway.

Title: We Are Lost and Found
Author: Helene Dunbar
Release date: September 3rd 2019
Number of pages: 304 (kindle edition)
Good things about this book: Honest and important. Relatable characters.
Bad things about this book: Not bad but it took a me a bit to get used to how the dialogues were written.
Do I recommend it? Yes, I do.
Rate: 5/5

Read the summary and add this book on Goodreads: here

ARC given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book is so important and showed us a young boy’s pov of the beginning of the AIDS pandemic in NYC in the 80’s. I loved Michael’s voice; wanting to be free but feeling guilty because he didn’t want to put life as he knew it in jeopardy. And how he couldn’t love as he wanted because he didn’t wanted to die of AIDS like so many people were. So many. Those numbers. The government’s silence. The press’ choice not to talk about it. People letting fear cloud their judgement.

But I don’t have a story, I respond. Everyone has a story, Michael. Maybe you just don’t know the plot of yours yet.

I loved all the characters. Micheal and his desire to be himself in a world who sees him as a monster who deserves to die, giving himself to the music and his friends. James and his fear, living as best as he could with what he had. Becky being an adult when she should’ve been a kid enjoying her last years of school. Connor and his life after he publicly came out to the world resulting in him being kicked out of his house, his safety. Gabriel and a life working to have a better life with his family.

I truly found this book honest and important. Everyone should read this.

firmablog

Any Old Diamonds by K.J. Charles

On By curryforkristelIn Adult, Fiction, lgbt, RomanceLeave a comment

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5stars

“It turns out I’m slightly braver than I am afraid when it comes to you.”

Title: Any Old Diamonds
Author: K.J. Charles
Series: Lilywhite Boys #1
Number of pages: 320 (kindle edition)
Good things about this book: The story and characters were great.
Bad things about this book: I would have loved an epilogue but since there are going to be more books, maybe we’ll see more of the characters? Who knows.
Do I recommend it? I do!
Rate: 5/5

Read the summary and add this book on Goodreads: here

This book was much more than I expected it to be. I knew I was going to love it because I love this author with all my heart, but then I found myself at 3am reading the book and not letting go until I finished it at 8am, when I had to get ready for work.

I give up sleep only for certain books. I love sleeping.

The dynamics between Alec and Jerry was genuine. They come from very different backgrounds, and they are thrown into this without really knowing if they can trust each other. The lust comes first: raw, unfiltered, much needed. Their relationship evolves naturally without taking anything from the story, the vengeance Alec wants to achieve from the start.

“The truth is that I love you. That I’ve been coming to love you for so long, and with so little care and attention on my part, that by the time I realised you’d walked off with my heart and soul it was already too late.”

There were a lot of references from the Sin of the Cities trilogy. This story takes place at least 20 years after the ending of those books; I found myself smiling and missing the characters and reminiscing about their misadventures and romances. Can’t wait for the next book, maybe we’ll actually see some of the characters!!

firmablog

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

On By curryforkristelIn Drama, Fiction, Paranormal/SupernaturalLeave a comment

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3stars

Title: Lincoln in the Bardo
Author: George Saunders
Number of pages: 353 (paperback edition)
Good things about this book: It’s a very interesting and peculiar written book.
Bad things about this book: The peculiarity of the narration is a bit confusing at times.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
Rate: 3/5

Read the summary and add this book on Goodreads: here

Trap. Horrible trap. At one’s birth it is sprung. Some last day must arrive. When you will need to get out of this body.

I chose this book because I liked the title. There was something in it that made me interested in seeing what this book was about. The two different covers I saw were just as interesting and, after some thoughts, I decided to give it a try. This decision was mainly made because it was going to be a book I could get for free so if I didn’t like it I was not going to feel bad about having spent money on it. Luckily it didn’t happen.

It was weird and a little confusing at times but I liked the idea and enjoyed this crazy night with these crazy and conflicted characters. It sure makes you think. And, even if I don’t think I’ll be reading more about Lincoln, maybe I’ll watch the movie to understand him better. I don’t remember studying anything about him because I went to school in Italy and there’s so much history here and in Europe that they mainly teach you what happened here and in neighboring countries. I only knew what I’ve seen in movies or heard in American TV shows; so only the usual, that he was shot and that he was a vampire slayer. That movie was weird.

He was not perfect; he was, remember, a little boy. Could be wild, naughty, overwrought. He was a boy. However – it must be said – he was quite a good boy.

The chapters about Willie’s death were tremendously sad. They were written in this form I have never seen before, yet it didn’t take anything from the deepness of the situation. The emotions it made me feel were real and the sadness and tears were so profound, they brought me back to the many events in my life that, just like Lincoln, have brought me to the verge of losing myself to grief.

How sad it is life that gives you love to give but then can take it away without notice. Sad, yet full of happy little moments.

As much as I enjoyed the whole graveyard events, there were some parts that were more confusing than others. Some chapters I thought were about Lincoln, I found out much later that instead were about someone in the graveyard. At first I didn’t realize and after so many chapters it was a realization I thought had to be clearer from the beginning. Maybe it was just me getting used to this type of narration. Maybe I wasn’t really into it at first and it took me a little to see things as they were.

I don’t regret having read Lincoln in the Bardo, on the contrary I was glad I satisfied my curiosity and gave this book a chance. It was a peculiar read and I will recommend it to someone looking just for that.

firmablog